FORK and CORK: Thumbs Down for Local Chain Restaurant Experiences

After trying yet another chain restaurant in town it was such a disappointment. The lot was packed at Aspen Creek with the after church crowd on Sunday, I saw that to be a good sign, but then again, everyone eats out after church on Sunday.

The restaurant inside was spacious and reminded me of a rustic ski lodge in Colorado. I'm no graphic artist but have been schooled in the art of fonts by co-workers - one look at the poorly designed menu specials placard and my radar went off. I knew I was going to get what I expected.

At the ten minute mark of not seeing a server in our section, my husband set the timer on his cell phone to give us some humor as we managed the energetic kids. Only a short four and a half minutes later the waiter came and introduced himself and took our drink order. 

The menu portrays home-style comfort type foods like pot roast, open faced sandwiches and the like, so I opted for an old favorite, the Monte Cristo sandwich. The side of raspberry preserves gave me hope that I might be pleasantly surprised. Either the meat or the batter on the sandwich had a funny taste to it. That's okay, I had leftover lettuce wraps that I made the night before at home. Our daughter ordered a chicken wrap sandwich and it came out well after our meals arrived. I chalked it up to a busy Sunday lunch crowd, it happens. But when we substitute a salad for fries and the plate still comes loaded up with fries - come on. We're trying to make some better choices from time to time.

Thumbs down for Aspen Creek, but on the up side, we are no longer curious about what lies inside the lodge.

The other local hot-spot that is always crowded yet always a let down is the Carolina Ale House. We keep giving them the benefit of the doubt, but after their grand opening last year, it's been a slippery slope with each trip.

I was really looking forward to the cowboy steak salad but the steak had run out. Not a big deal, I just requested either the sirloin or the strip atop the salad instead. The waitress cheerfully informed me that she couldn't do that because she'd have to charge me more for that. I was up for that, but apparently she is watching my bottom line for me. Frustrated from more of the same on previous visits, I just sighed and ordered the California chicken club - the picture looked appetizing. For the third time at this establishment all of our food arrived but our daughter's buffalo chicken wrap. We have to literally laugh because it's almost like a joke against our daughter at this point- it happens every time. We let her munch on the fries - you know the ones we did not order and substituted for salad...

The California chicken club is described as loaded with avocados and sprouts and I got one measly avacadoe slice and a pinch of sprouts. I'm not one to complain, I just finished my cold one and reminded myself why it's been so long since we've been. It's a shame, I love the sports theme inside with Army uniforms to boot, but I don't visit places solely for their decor. Stick with the suds at the bar while you catch a game, or go with lower expectations. Thumbs down for the Carolina Ale House.